Interested in becoming a part of one of the largest independent student-run newsrooms? The Alligator is looking for its next team of reporters, editors, photographers, copy editors, audience engagement strategists and more to move the newspaper forward.
Students will gain professional experiences on deadline in an electrifying newsroom.
The Alligator reporters have covered high-profile events such as white supremacist Richard Spencer’s speech at UF and the Women’s March in D.C. They’ve investigated the education success gap in Alachua County and broken stories about the underfunding of the UF Counseling and Wellness Center and the fight to make The Swamp Restaurant a historical landmark. They’ve updated students about what Dennis, the Turlington dancer, is doing and why a UF School of Theatre and Dance professor no longer works at UF.
From Fall 2018 to Spring 2019, the Alligator newsroom worked on a project called “Who is Gainesville?” This project was funded by the Poynter Institute, a non-profit resource for journalism.
Our staff has gone on to internships at The New York Times, Sun Sentinel, The Palm Beach Post, Miami Herald, CNN, Tampa Bay Times, Chicago Tribune, Gainesville Sun, Sarasota Herald-Tribune and more.
Being part of The Alligator staff also connects students to a large and diverse distinguished alumni network. Our alumni work at national and local newsrooms, study at Harvard Law School and start public relation firms.
Editor Applications
Click HERE to apply
Applications are due 11:59 p.m. May 1
University Editor
The university editor will lead The Alligator’s coverage on all things related to the University of Florida. This editor will manage the student government reporter, university administration reporter, a news assistant and edit contributor stories focused on the university. The Alligator is looking for someone who is organized, passionate about committed to watching over the powers of the university administration and Student Government. This editor will edit stories for The Alligator’s three day per week print product and daily online content. Stories assigned and edited should range from daily to enterprise stories. Alligator staff writer or editor experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $22 per print night; $11 per off-print night
Metro Editor
The metro editor will lead The Alligator’s coverage of Gainesville, Alachua County and Santa Fe College. This person will manage and edit the crime and breaking news reporter, city commission reporter, a news assistant and metro-related contributor stories. Stories assigned and edited should range from daily to enterprise stories. The Alligator is looking for someone who is creative, organized and determined to learn about the Gainesville community. This editor should be prepared to look for interesting and nuanced angles in local stories. The metro editor will edit stories for The Alligator’s three day per week print schedule and daily online content. Alligator staff writer or editor experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $22 per print night; $11 per off-print night
Freelance Editor
The freelance editor is responsible for compiling a list of stories for contributing writers and will be the point of contact for The Alligator’s contributors. These stories will be in surplus of the stories the university and metro editors have assigned to their staff writers and news assistants. The freelance editor will be pitched stories from contributing writers, as well. The freelance editor is also responsible for editing each contributed story and communicating with writers about each of their stories. It is important that the freelance editor makes sure that each writer understands the expectations for each story so that they don’t only do the bare minimum and submit a sub-par story. The Alligator is looking for someone that is organized, personable and a constant communicator. This editor will edit stories the two day per week print schedule and daily online content. Alligator staff writer or editor experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $22 per print night; $11 per off-print night
Multimedia Editor
The multimedia editor is responsible for working with photographers and videographers to provide multimedia content for the newspaper and The Alligator website. The editor is responsible for producing some media content while assigning daily and enterprise photo and video assignments for staff photographers and videographers. We’re looking for someone who is passionate about multimedia and is willing to collaborate with reporters to create content. Journalism and communications majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $18 per print night; $9 per off-print night
Opinions Editor
The opinions editor is responsible for maintaining the opinions section of The Alligator, choosing columnists and cartoonists to work for the section as well as editing any work that is sent in. The opinions editor is also responsible for consulting with the editor-in-chief and managing editors and writing daily editorials for the paper. Columnist experience is preferred but not required. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student. All majors are encouraged to apply.
Pay: About $50 per week
The Avenue Editor (Entertainment Editor)
The Avenue Editor is responsible for maintaining the entertainment section of The Alligator, choosing writers to work for the section as well as editing any work that is sent in. The Alligator is looking for someone with creative ideas who is in tune with local and national entertainment and pop culture. Previous Avenue or entertainment writing experience is preferred but not required. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student. All majors are encouraged to apply.
Pay: About $35 per week
Copy Desk Chief
Copy Desk Chiefs are responsible for running copy desk and selecting and working with copy editors. Copy Desk Chiefs are in charge of proofreading every story and print pages with copy editors to check for factual errors, grammar and AP style. This person will work one or two print nights. Prior experience on copy desk preferred but not required. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student. All majors are encouraged to apply.
Pay: About $25 per print night; $12 per off-print night
Staff Writer Applications
Click HERE to apply
Applications are due 11:59 p.m. May 1
Student Government and University Administration Reporter
This reporter is the sole watchdog of UF’s Student Government, which has a more than $20 million budget funded by student fees. This reporter will be responsible for attending weekly Tuesday night Senate meetings, so applicants’ class schedule should not overlap. Previously, this reporter has written features on the SG executive candidates and the women in SG, the money spent on the UF SG campaign season and the end of the year $20,000 banquet. They are also responsible for attending the University of Florida Board of Trustees meetings and writing about updates, changes or announcements dealing with the UF administration. This reporter is also encouraged to dig into demographics of UF faculty, staff and students. Some previous stories done in this beat include UF changing graduation procedures and university negotiations with Graduate Assistants United. This reporter will be expected to write an average of four to five stories per week and at least one enterprise or “Feature Friday” story per semester. Previous staff writer and/or contributing writing experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: $10 per story that appears in print. $5 per online-only stories and per briefs.
Entertainment Reporter
This reporter will be responsible for covering all things culture and entertainment in Gainesville. They will work on the Avenue team, which reports on music, theatre, fashion, TV, movies, food and drink, nightlife and lifestyle pertaining to UF students and the larger Gainesville area. The Avenue has interviewed national stars like Chris Redd from “Saturday Night Live”, Beth Dover from “Orange is the New Black” and alternative band Joywave. They also cover Gainesville’s bustling culture scene including reporting on FEST, local band sensations like The Hails and Flipturn, local restaurants and Gainesville’s Pride festival. However, while the Avenue is published once per week, this reporter will be on-call to report any breaking news in those categories throughout the week. They will thus work closely with the Avenue, university and metro editors, depending on the story. This reporter will be expected to write an average of four to five stories per week and at least one enterprise or “Feature Friday” story per semester. Previous staff writer and/or contributing writing experience - in the Avenue in particular - is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: $10 per story that appears in print. $5 per online-only stories and per briefs.
Breaking News and Crime Reporter
This reporter is responsible for covering breaking news and writing about crime on the UF campus and in the Gainesville community. The reporter is expected to write two to three police briefs daily and at least one enterprise or feature story per semester. This reporter will keep up with local breaking news, including serious car crashes that affect traffic and UF Alerts, and follow developing cases. The crime reporter will learn how to search court records, request arrest reports and contact law enforcement. Besides briefs, crime stories can range from following up with a shooting survivor to covering local celebrity arrests to writing about how many people were kicked out of the stadium during a football game. This reporter is expected to respond quickly to breaking news, attend law enforcement press conferences and update developing stories. This reporter should have a sharp eye for detail and a sense of humor. Previous contributing or staff writing experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: $10 per story that appears in print. $5 per online-only stories and per briefs.
City Commission Reporter
This reporter will be a watchdog of the Gainesville and Alachua County commission. This reporter will be responsible for looking at the agenda for commission meetings and pre-reporting stories important to the community prior. The reporter will attend these meeting to hear out the results of such agenda items, talk to local leaders and write on deadline. This reporter will also be in charge of covering local races and writing candidate profiles. Other general stories pertaining to the growth of the area or its needs will be assigned. This could include news from local schools, voting rights and safety. This reporter is expected to write 4-5 stories per week and at least one enterprise or “Feature Friday” story per semester. Previous contributing or staff writing experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: $10 per story that appears in print. $5 per online-only stories and per briefs.
General Assignments Reporter (2)
These reporters will be the jack-of-all-trades in the newsroom. They’ll cover any story from university to metro. They’ll be lead by the digital news media editor, who will teach them how to quickly write briefs and breaking news. They’ll also learn the basics of reporting in a multimedia age across digital platforms. These reporters will be expected to write daily briefs, 2-4 stories per week and at least one enterprise or “Feature Friday” story per semester. Previous contributing writing experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: $10 per story that appears in print. $5 per online-only stories and per briefs.
News Assistants
News assistants will be the first people who our desk editors go to when a breaking news story happens and a staff writer needs backup. These positions allow The Alligator to bring in more people willing to work and learn who may not have the same experience as a staff writer. News assistants will learn how to pitch, write and pursue their own stories. They’ll be expected to write 1-3 stories per week. Previous contributing writing experience is preferred but not required. Journalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
This is an unpaid position.
Multimedia Applications
Click HERE to apply
Applications are due 11:59 p.m. May 1
Photographer (2)
Photographers capture the details stories cannot tell on their own. Through speeches, protests, features, sports and daily events on campus, photographers are on the front lines to preserve the history of the community. Photographers are expected to take 3-4 photos a week that would accompany daily stories and also take photos for the “Feature Friday.” Photographers are also required to complete at least one photo story per month. Although a photographer’s priority is to shoot photos, knowing how to shoot and edit video is also recommended. Photographers will also be required to produce at least one enterprise feature photo story and accompanying video per semester. This could stand alone or complement an ongoing “Feature Friday.” Previous contributing experience is preferred but not required. Photojournalism majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $5 per assignment
Videographer
The videographer will be in charge of showing our readers what it’s like to be at an event. This is a new position where the videographer would produce 1-3 professionally filmed and edited videos for online content per week. The videographer will work on videos of weekly important events on campus and the “Feature Friday”. One enterprise feature video per semester will also be required. This could accompany a “Feature Friday” or stand alone. This is a good chance for the videographer to get their content published by a news organization and contribute to the growth of The Alligator’s digital space. The Alligator is looking for someone creative who can film and edit video quickly to be placed online. Photojournalism or telecommunication majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
Pay: About $5 per assignment
Graphics
The graphic designer will be a visual communicator to make it easy and fun for readers to interpret hard-hitting stories. This is a new position at The Alligator, aimed at pushing our digital and online content further. Although this position is unpaid, flexible applicants are preferred, but the graphic designer can work at their leisure. The Alligator is looking for someone who would seize the opportunity to get creative and have their work published. Knowledge of data visualizations, illustrations, Adobe programs and an eye for great design are pluses. Journalism and communications majors are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a current UF or Santa Fe College student.
This is an unpaid position.
Audience Engagement Applications
Click HERE to apply
Applications are due 11:59 p.m. May 1
Social Media Strategist
This strategist will help The Alligator continue to grow its social media presence and audience engagement. The social media strategist will work directly with the Engagement Managing Editor to work on strategizing social media posts and use different platforms. This person will also come up with new ways to reach The Alligator’s audience. The strategist will also gather and analyze social media posts and send reports to the desk editors, Editor-in-Chief and managing editors three times a week. Although this position is unpaid, this will give the strategist a chance to be experimental and gain practical experience in branding and social media. Journalism and communication majors or marketing students are preferred, but all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must either be a UF or Santa Fe College student.
This is an unpaid position.
